How do all you DVC Members handle school?

[tammydel]

I am a 4th grade teacher, mother of two elementary age children and a certified Disney nut. Thought I was qualified to add my two cents.

I have had some students pulled out for family vacations and it is usually not a problem. We do have a number of State Exams and it is much better for them to be in school not only for the test but for the few weeks proir to the test. While certainly as a teacher I want parents to teach thier children that school is very important, I also understand that family time/vacations are important and there are many factors that determine when those can be taken.

My one reccomendation is this: Be Honest!!! Even if you think your school won't like it. I had a student disappear without warning for a week and a half. When the family returned the parents told a sory of a relative passing away out of town. Then over the next few weeks I saw the child wearing new park merchindise iteams. That burned me!

As for me, being a teacher, I can not take time during the school year so will stick to school vacations. The best(worst) I have done is tack on a day to a three day weekend. Although I have done this only for adult get aways so far!

My kids have October and March birthdays. One of these years (soon) I may take them for a long weekend birthday surprise trip!

 

[tiberius]

We always make a point to find out our school calendars when they are approved by the school district and then try to match vacations with school vactions, maybe allowing missing 2 days or so. However, my children are all in junior high and high schools where attendence is more important than lower grades.
Our local school calendar will be approved next month so if anyone is interested they should check with their schools.

 

[DVC-Don]

We took our 2 children out during school times up till recently. Our son hit middle school this school year so we stopped traveling during school. It got harder and harder to catch up. Now we will travel during February school vacation and the last week or two of August.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We now vacation in the summer. DD#1 misses 3 days of school for cheerleading competitions and teachers frown upon that!! They have frowned upon taking her out for vacation in the past.

It is not longer worth it!! DD is the one that suffers. Her teachers will not give her work to take with us and she has to make it up when we get back along with her current work.

Here, the school guide book talks about scheduling family vacations during school vacations and not during school time. It says that work will not be given out prior to a vacation and tests can be made up at the discretion of the teacher!!

 

[LisaR]

We homeschool our kids so vacations have never been a problem. We applied awhile ago for a foreign exchange student. At that time, there weren't any available for this January. We pretty much forgot about it. Our December trip is now booked, including air. Of course, we were notified the next day that we can host a student starting in August. I would love to take her on a trip to WDW. However, she would be attending the local high school at that time. I do not have a clue how the school would feel about her missing nine days, but my guess is they won't be happy. We don't really know what to do. I don't want to spend $400 in airline penalties to switch to another time when there isn't a guarantee that we will actually get a student.

Lisa

 

[dbkelly]

It appears that you live in Mass, which is a plus for April vacation week. The spring vacation week for a majority of the states coincides with Easter. As for Mass, we coincide with Patriot's day which is always the 3rd Monday in April. (Easter is according to the equinox? Moon? or something like that) It appears that every 3 years we unfortunately run into Easter, this year being one of them. The next 2 years, does not run into Easter, so I would strongly consider spring vacation. We have gone several years and although it is considered Magic season, the lines are not bad at all and the weather is great!

Personally, I think your children are young enough, but there will be a point in time that it will affect them too much and you will realize it.

D. B. Kelly

 

[Ms. WDW]

I've always had to work vacations around my son's school schedule. He's in Catholic School and they most definately frown on parents taking children out for "vacation".

But we've never had a problem during the summer months. I've been "Home" during July and August and quite honestly it's always been a great trip.

Now, I would really like trying an off month. Maybe next time; he's older now and in a different Catholic School so maybe the rules aren't as "strict" here!

 

[RobDoc]

Since this isn't really a DVC topic, the Community Board is a better forum for the discussion.

 

[sgtdisney]

I have no problem with taking my child out of school for a limited amount of time when need be. We just recently took my son out of kindergarten for a week (and then he got sick the day we got home and missed 2 more days.) He picked up fine. The teacher told him to keep a journal of his daily events (we went to visit his uncle and his three new cousins (triplets.) which he did. The class loved it.

In my opinion, it all depends on the child. The parent knows what the child can take and can communicate with the teacher if need be. I went on vacations throughout my childhood where I would miss some time at school. Even during High School. It didn't effect me at all. I never had a problem making up the work. I will admit it is a little more difficult as you get further along in school, but this is up to the parent, teacher and student to determine.

As Jiminy Cricket sings, let your conscience be your guide. If you think your kid can handle it and the school doesn't prohibit it. Go for it. Many times kids can learn 100 times more on an educational vacation than they can learn in a classroom.

 

[Simba's Mom]

We're DVCers and since I'm a school teacher, we also must deal with school vacation schedules. I really don't feel I can pull myself out of school for a week. And we don't even get any 3 day weekends (private boarding school, so our schedule is a little unique). So I'm limited to going during holiday breaks or in the summer. Hot? Yes. Crowded? Yes Would I rather go in fall? You betcha! But this is a fact of my life right now (have to pay those tuitions for 2 DSs in college)-a hot, crowded day in WDW is better than any day of work!

 

[jel0511]

OUr children are almost 5 and 2, and this is the last time we'll be taking them out of school for an extended period of time. DD starts kindergarten and DH and I don't believe in taking our kids out of school for vacations. We'll travel over the summer or Easter/Christmas breaks from now on. We live in NJ, so we get a week off in November as well, so that week will also come in to play as we are going on the Magic that week in November. Yes, I have to go at the more busy times, but hey I'm a DVC member and I don't do commando type touring anymore. If I only get on a few rides, I don't care, I'll be back. I'm there to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. I've been down when it hasn't been very busy many years ago at the Poly, and to me, it just isn't as festive and fun with no one there. Yeah it was great walking on all the rides, but after a while, I was just bored. I also like traveling when we can utilize the resort pool, since that's generally in the summer, we're o.k. We went Christmas 2001 and it was SOO cold and we couldn't use the pool, it actually was our worst WDW vacation. We're leaving in 2 weeks, and I'm actually afraid that we're not going to have fun, since it might not be very warm. We treat WDW as a destination, and use the resorts as resorts, not just a place to crash at night. We also believe that education is VERY important, more important than a family vacation. I know we'll have to pay more to vacation around a school schedule, but that is money well spent in our book.

 

[Kallison]

We were okay until oldest DH hit 6th grade and he has already told us no way will he miss school in middle school. I think when people talk about planning around test times, they probably mean during standarized state testing time, or for us the week of our 6th grade assessment would not be good. Sometimes the stress the kids feel for missing assignments is just not worth it. I work in a middle school and I know kids who are genuinely sick for a week and it takes them several weeks to dig out of the whole of made up assignments and tests. Plus the teachers expect the kids to be responsible, they don't give out a lot of work ahead of time, you missed school well tough -- you figure out what needs to be done when you get back. Taking time off the last week of the semester would not be ideal, since there is no time to make up missed work. Some kids are fine with this, others get freaked out. I had a student tell me today she is never being absent again, and she was only sick for two days. I work with learning disabled kids, the mainstream kids don't have the luxury of someone like me telling them here are the notes you missed, here are the exams and what you need to study for (although I help them too if they ask ) So to make a long story, long - lol, you still have a few years to enjoy those trips during school days.

 

[raidermatt]

My son starts school in September, and its pretty simple for us. We will take our DVC trips during school breaks.

 

[trainfun]

As a teacher, I have never taken my kids out of school and we've been to Disney more than ten times. They have all been terrific! Yes, we've battled heat and crowds, but we will not send the message to our kids that leisure and vacation are more important than responsibility. Sorry, that is the way I see it in most cases. The real exceptions are few, though valid.

I teach high schoolers and when they ask for work in advance of a trip, I gladly provide it. It is almost never done when they get back. They need extra help, which I do every week on Thursdays. But then they can't come on Thursday because they have to make up a math test, etc.

Honestly it is not a good idea to take kids out of school. I will try to work with students as much as possible, but my patience with excuses and unfinished work that I spent extra time to prepare has its limits. It is a rare and pleasant surprise when a student returns from a vacation with work in hand ready to go. And that is something I always point out in a college recommendation because it says a lot about the student's character and the parents' values.

I also see that many posts have a long list of previous Disney vacations, so please, let's not kid ourselves about the "educational" value!

I do notice that the very top students, the ones who go to the best colleges and wind up with the best careers are almost never absent (unless truly ill) and have very strong family support. It reminds me of the Korean greengrocer in Harlem whose store was never closed, until one day there was a sign on the door. It read, "Closed--taking daughter to orientation at Columbia University -- Open tomorrow."

I do understand if a parent can only get vacation time during the school year, but this doesn't usually happen year after year.

And I do think parents have a responsibility to make certain that work that has been requested be completed.

I know these are not popular sentiments these days, when many seem to think rules are fine for everyone else but they can do whatever they like.

 

[beattyfamily]

I thank most of you for your kind reports on how you handle going to WDW using your DVC points in a popular month like December when you have school age children.

I've learned a lot. I WILL be taking my DD's out through 3rd grade (2004) and then from then on we'll either go Thanksgiving week or the end of August or like the nice poster from MA said, go April break when it doesn't fall around Easter. I, of course, want to do what's best for my DD's and that's the reason for this post in the first place!!

I think I'm a very good parent even though I've had the nerve to take my children out of school. I've already stated I would not do this in high school and probably not after 3rd grade.

I wanted DVCers perspective who go twice a year or go for 2 weeks at a time etc... who have children.

I didn't want a debate or a lecture on what a bad example I'm setting for my children. I'll bet that even though I took them out of school as small children, they'll do very well in high school and also get into good colleges. They are very smart and hard working and love school (so far). I'm not worried in the least!

How are we breaking rules??? I've always tried my hardest to avoid breaking rules; for example, when our DD turned 3, two weeks before our trip, I certainly bought her a ticket. Our school has yet to tell me I'm breaking their rules. Her 1st grade teacher thought it was great my DD was getting this special family time. My DD came home with a very detailed journal of the entire trip. Not breaking rules here.

Thanks again.

This will be it for me. I didn't know I'd have to defend my parenting skills. My kids are 3 and 6, not 13 and 16 for goodness sake!

I hope this gets locked.

 

[melk]

beattyfamily,
Don't feel bad, I figured that when this thread got moved it was just going to turn into a debate on taking kids out of school. It's obvious you are a conscientious parent, you are concerned about taking them out, and want the best for your kids. But try not to let other's opinions get to you. And it was clear that you were talking about your very young children, not high-schoolers. I don't recall that ivy-league schools look at your attendance records in first-grade .

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I think I can see this from all sides. I've taken my kids out for 4 day weekends twice--where they missed 2 days and I took 2 personal days--in December, so I could see Christmas stuff. I don't see this happening again as DD#1 will soon be in jr. high.
We are DVC and I don't really mind the summer. A hot day at Disney is better than a hot day in Toledo!
As a teacher, the only time I ever fumed was last year when a senior took a week off to go to Cancun the week before finals--he had missed a lot of school during the year for junior hockey--and couldn't go on spring break because of hockey--so he went with the rest of the team (not his family), all of whom were 19. His parents signed the form so I couldn't do anything and he really didn't give a darn what I thought anyhow. Other than that I've never minded working with kids. I know that some parents cannot vacation during summer vacation--and that unfortunately, some sports put so many demands on kids (camps, etc) that they aren't allowed to "vacation" either.
Robin M.

 

[jimmytammy]

We took DD out for 1 week in 1st grade and school just told her to keep a journal of her trip to bring and show her teacher.
2nd grade we took her and DS who was in Kindergarten out for 3 days and school said keep a journal again.
The next year we took them for 10 days during year round school fall break so no days missed.
We started homeschooling this year so no problem. We were at WDW for 5 days and 2 of those days we homeschooled while at Epcot, mostly in World Showcase.

Good Luck!!

 

[WDWMom]

I would have to disagree with Trainfun in regards to Disney being " Educational ". As with most things the motivations of the parents are the question. Are you willing to take the time while on vacation to find not only the things that are fun, but also the things that are educational? My Daughter has, in addition to all of her assigned work, done reports on Manatees, Dolphins, Tigers, and Komoda Dragons. She has photo Journals on what she has seen , interviewed their handlers, and researched them on the web and at the library. She did the work herself, but we encouraged (made her) all the while explaining that time off from school was not time off from learning.

When we get home she hands in all of her work to her teacher. It is for their review only. She gets no extra credit for this other than some recognition from her teacher for a job well done. She shares the work with her class and can you imagine gets to talk about Disney to her class. This is usually reward enough.

Also, unbelievable to some educators, there are some professions where the only time to take off is in the winter months. My husband works residential construction in Michigan. Due to Building Code changes they can no longer pour foundations or do any work on concrete if the temperature falls below a certain point for more than five days. This has the affect of limiting the speed with which construction is usually done. It makes no sense to take a week off from work in June or August when he is usually off part time in Febuary ! The school calender is a compromise between educators and school board members. When they start asking for my input, and listening, I'll ask them when I should go on vacation.

 

[raidermatt]

Trainfun has hit it right on the head in regards to the reality of the situation in the vast majority of cases. As they noted, there are exceptions to every rule...